Improved husking-palm



D. E. SHAW.

, Corny Husker.

No. 18,607. Patented Noy. 10, 1857.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. SHAW, OF ROSS COUNTY, OHIO.

IMPROVED HUSKING-PALM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,607, dated November 10, 1857.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAvID E. SHAW, of the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Husking-Palm; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following speciiication and accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of said drawings, Figure l denotes a front view of my husking-palm as it is seen when on the hand of the workman.

My husking-palm is constructed in such a manner as to be used on the palm of the hand, and is so adapted to the hand as to be entirely free from the danger of making the hands sore from its use.

My husking-palm is composed of a leather strap, A, some two and one-half 'inches wide onl the inside of the hand, and has a hole cut through it for the thumb in such a manner as to t the hand. pass onto the back ofthe hand a short distance, and to one end of said wide strap there is attached a narrow strap, and to the other end of said strap there is attached a buckle. Said strap and buckle serve to fasten the palm to the workmans hand.

To the wide strap there is riveted a thin iron plate, B, which is made concave to fit the palm of the hand at and near the root of the thumb, as shown in Fig. l. The plate B serves as a stiffener to the palm, prevents soreness to the hand in breaking off the butt after husking, and forms a support for the steel tang C, which is riveted to the plate B. Y The tang is about two inches long, and is made a little crooked, so as to stand out from the hollow of the hand, so that when the workman grasps an ear of corn the tang C penetrates and splits the husks. The plate B and tangOare placed far enough back upon the palm A to be en tirely free from the danger of wounding the ngers when the hand is shut up, as when the palm is in use it works back upon the back part of the hand.

Operation: The workman straps the palm Said strap is long enough to onto his hand. He then grasps an ear of corn near the small end, and in the action of shutting the hand the tang O penetrates and splits the husks. The workman then turns his hand backward, resting the ear of corn against the lower part of the hand, his fingers slip over the vend of the corn and go down upon the palm, and resting upon the husks which are under the tang C, and hold them fast while he tears them off. Ihe other side is stripped off in the usual manner.

To the husking-peg now in use there are many serious objections. The peg is attached to the second and third fingers of the hand, and is held firm in the middle joint of the fingers by shutting them up very tight. The fmgers at times become so cramped that itis difficult to straighten them out after using the peg a short time or on a cold day. 4It also makes the foreingcr sore by having the whole strain come upon it. The end of the peg coming through the husks is caught by the ball of the thumb, which causes it to soon become sore. In the use of the husking-thimble the whole strain comes upon the fingers, making them sore also.

In breaking oi the ear after the husks have been stripped down, the palm will4 save the hand from the scratches which the hand issubject to from the rough corn when using the common devices for husking corn.

I do not claim a husking-peg to be worn across the inside of the fingers, but,

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe husking-palm to be used on the palm of Vthe hand for husking and breaking off the butts of corn, constructed and operating subA stantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature this 2d day of September, 1857 A DAVID E. SHAW. Vitnesses:

GILBERT O. MARSHALL, L. Q. EDMIsToN. 

